The iShares Semiconductor ETF SOXX has advanced about 34% over the past year, outperforming the Nasdaq Composite Index, which clocked in gains of about 23% for the same period.
Semiconductor companies were among the beneficiaries of the COVID-19 pandemic. The work-from-home and study-from-home trends necessitated computers, accessories, gadgets and phones, which are powered by chips.
The semiconductor shortage that ensued also worked in the industry's favor.
Meet The Chip Industry's Outperformer: Aehr Test Systems AEHR, which was founded in May 1977, is a supplier of semiconductor test and reliability qualification equipment. Its solutions are designed to reduce the cost of testing, to perform screening and stress testing and burn-in or cycling of homogeneous and heterogenous logic and memory semiconductor integrated circuits, sensors, power and optical devices.
Related Link: Why Aehr Test Systems Stock Is Making New 52-Week Highs Today
Strong Fundamentals And Order Flow Support Stock: After trading at sub-$2 levels for much of the latter half of 2020, the stock broke above the level in early December. It traded mostly between $2 and $3 until mid-July 2021 before taking off, catalyzed by a strong quarterly result and a $10.8-million contract award.
In late August, the company announced the receipt of a $3 million order to support the production, testing and burn-in of silicon carbide power semiconductors for EVs. Shortly after, it announced a first-time order from China for its FOX singulated die test and burn-in system for silicon photonics production.
In early September, the company announced a $19.4 million order from a major automotive semiconductor supplier, which it identified as a Fortune 500 company.
Aehr Vs. Industry Titans: Over the past year, Aehr shares are up about 1,330%. In comparison, Intel Corporation INTC shares are down 0.4%.
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. AMD and NVIDIA Corporation NVDA have gained about 30% and 47%, respectively, in the same period. Teradyne, Inc. TER, which manufactures semiconductor testing equipment, is up about 26% over the past year.
Aehr shares closed at $21.15 on Friday up 2.22%.
Related Link: Why AMD Is Looking 'Solid' Into The Year-End
Photo by Jeremy Bezanger on Unsplash
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